Charismatic 'The Glory' star expands acting spectrum in Disney+ 'Unmasked'

By Park Jin-hai

Jung Sung-il, 45, primarily known for his work on the stage, has seen a meteoric rise in domestic and international recognition after his role as the impeccably dressed Ha Do-yeong in the hit Netflix series "The Glory" (2022).

In his latest project, the Disney+ series "Unmasked," set to conclude tomorrow, he successfully transformed his acting style by portraying Han Do, a new director who was unexpectedly transferred to the "Trigger" team after causing trouble at his previous workplace.

"Han Do grew up in circumstances that led him to be reclusive and prefer solitude. He is an individualist who loves animals more than people. I wanted to portray him as an isolated person who doesn't act for others," Jung explained his character during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Tuesday.

The investigative thriller tells the story of a dedicated investigative reporting team as they create the program "Trigger." Han Do joins its veteran leader Oh So-ryong (Kim Hye-soo), assistant director Kang Ki-ho (Ju Jong-hyuk) and the writer (Jang Hye-jin). As a team, they expose social evils that the legal system has failed to address by immediately pointing a camera at them.

His character represents Generation MZ, a Korean term encompassing millennials and Gen Zers, known for their appreciation for personal space and not trusting others.

As a person who experienced a tough childhood and workplace bullying, he wears a hoodie to avoid eye contact but slowly undergoes changes throughout the series.

The actor said he focused on how to show the process of the transformation.

"At first, he's really closed off, not talking much and avoiding eye contact. But once he joins the 'Trigger' team, he starts to open up. He pays more attention to his teammates and starts using words like 'we' instead of 'I.' It's like he finally finds a place where he belongs," Jung said.

When asked if it was challenging to transition to such a different role after "The Glory," he noted that it wasn't particularly difficult.

"I've done a lot of theater work, so it felt natural. I could move around and express myself more freely compared to when I was in a suit. That's what I wanted," he said. "That's why I chose 'Uprising' after 'The Glory.' I wanted to play a different character, even if I was wearing the same suit. I wanted to show a different side of myself."

Since "Unmasked" deals with serious social topics, there were some scenes that felt really real and reminded viewers of actual events.

"We were all really careful about how we handled those scenes. We didn't want to upset anyone. We thought a lot about how deep we should go, and the actors were really serious about their roles," he said.

Regarding co-star Kim, who took the role of the "Trigger" production team's leader, Jung revealed that he was nervous about working with her at first.

"It was natural to feel nervous and excited about working with such a great senior actor. However, she always encouraged and praised me, which helped me act as much as I could," he said.

Meanwhile, he will have a welcome return to the theater next month. He is set to star in the play "Capone Trilogy," composed of three omnibus episodes based on three murders that occurred in Room 661 of the Lexington Hotel in Chicago from 1923 to 1943. Jung takes on the role of an old man.